Green Voice Rwanda Inspires Young Students to Take Action for a Sustainable Future
Author: Manzi Sabin
Green Voice Rwanda, a network of journalism students producing environmental stories, has taken its environmental awareness campaign to GS Remera Protestant, encouraging young people to play an active role in protecting the environment and understanding its importance for a sustainable future.
The campaign, held on November 4, 2026, was supported by the FOJO Media Institute through the Rwanda Media Programme under the theme “Students in Action for a Sustainable Future.” It brought together students, educators and environmental advocates, including Nduwayezu Jean Claude, Dean of Students and Career Guidance at the East African University Rwanda’s Kigali Campus; 1,089 students from GS Remera; and a representative of the youth-led environmental organisation Forest4Life.
Green Voice Rwanda brings together journalism students from four universities in Rwanda: Mount Kigali University (MKU), the University of Rwanda (UR), East African University Rwanda (EAUR), and Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK), who are dedicated to environmental reporting and raising awareness of related issues, including climate change, biodiversity, nature conservation, and environmental protection.
During the visit, members of the network engaged GS Remera Protestant students in discussions about the importance of the environment, the responsibility everyone shares in protecting it, and the consequences of environmental degradation if appropriate action is not taken.
The discussions covered several environmental issues, including the importance of trees, proper waste management, climate change, and biodiversity conservation.
As part of the initiative, participants planted 10 trees in different parts of the school. Students were also provided with materials to support environmentally responsible habits, including dustbins to promote proper waste disposal, reusable water bottles, and other supplies.
Akimpaye Sandrine, Head of the Environmental Club at GS Remera Protestant, welcomed the initiative, saying it had given students valuable knowledge that they would share with their fellow learners.
“We named the tree we planted ‘My Tree’. This has given me the responsibility to take care of it and encourage others to do the same. When trees are properly cared for, they benefit all of us,” she said.
Bizimana Jean Baptiste, Assistant School Prefect in charge of Discipline, said activities of this kind motivate students to develop a greater interest in environmental protection while gaining practical knowledge.
“We welcomed this initiative because it helps students develop a love for the environment. When they see people coming from different places to explain its importance, they become more interested in protecting it and understanding the benefits it brings to their lives,” he said.
He also commended a student-led initiative that brings together university students to share knowledge and skills, empower young people, and amplify environmental stories through journalism.
Nduwayezu Jean Claude, Dean of Students and Career Guidance at the East African University Rwanda, encouraged students to take an active role in environmental protection, emphasising that everyone has a valuable part to play in safeguarding the environment.
He said the commitment shown by young people was encouraging, particularly because environmental conservation aligns with Rwanda’s national development priorities.
“Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility. As school leaders, we are pleased to see this mindset among the students we lead, especially because it is in line with the direction our country has taken,” he said.
Niyonkuru Patrick, Coordinator of Green Voice Rwanda and a recent graduate of EAUR, expressed his gratitude to the FOJO Media Institute, GS Remera Protestant, and the universities represented in the network for supporting the initiative.
He emphasised that educating young people is one of the most effective ways to build a generation that understands the importance of environmental conservation.
“We thank the FOJO Media Institute, our respective universities and GS Remera Protestant for welcoming and supporting us. We discussed with the younger students the importance of trees, proper waste separation and disposal, climate change and biodiversity,” he said.
He added that the knowledge shared had strengthened students’ understanding of environmental issues and equipped them to pass on what they had learned to fellow young people, helping extend environmental awareness to a wider audience.
“The best time to take environmental action was yesterday, but today presents another valuable opportunity to act for the sake of our planet, humanity, nature and future generations,” Patrick added
He also highlighted that the initiative goes beyond environmental reporting by engaging the public and making a meaningful contribution to Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and its ambition to build a climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable future.
